Pope Francis celebrates his first public Mass since becoming the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

Pope Francis, third from right, celebrates his inaugural mass with cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican. Source: AP

POPE Francis has met the full College of Cardinals, including the 114 who made him the first non-European pope in 1300 years.

The gathering in the 16th-century Clementine Hall inside the Vatican city was jovial, a chance for the Pope to formally thank all his brother cardinals, including the ones who were not part of the formal conclave, for coming to Rome from around the world.

He paid tributes to predecessor Benedict and reaffirmed his belief his brother cardinals were all close and friends after which he affectionately greeted each one individually.

He also told the gathered they should not give in to pessimism

Behind the scenes, the Pope is expected to provide something of a roadmap as to what he wants to achieve in the early days of his papacy and who he wants to appoint in his ministry.

It has been revealed there were open arguments during pre-conclave gatherings in which cardinals asked pointed questions of those linked to the maligned Roman Curia, or administrative arm of the global church.

Many cardinals also demanded to know what was in a secret 300-page report, commissioned by former pope Benedict and apparently outlining the infighting and allegations of corruption and infighting dirty deeds, including blackmail.

The problems of administration is seen as having exposed the Vatican to embarrassing revelations, including financial irregularities and infighting between Italians close to Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone and those who were not.

Pope Francis gave a hint of his intention during a mass at the Sistine Chapel, where 24 hours earlier he was elected as pope, when he warned there needed to be spiritual renewal or the church risked becoming little more than an aid agency.

Pope Francis delivered his first mass in Italian and without notes, a stark contrast to Pope Benedict who read his out in Latin. Deborah Gembara reports.

Australian Cardinal George Pell said he believed Pope Francis, with his acknowledged piety and proven orthodoxy, had also shown "an ability to take decisions, and hard decisions".

"He will support national hierarchies in the struggle against sexual abuse, giving priority to victims and one of his first tasks will be to examine the 300-page report on the workings of the Vatican by the three cardinals," Cardinal Pell said, making clear what his desire was.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis also enthralled Rome by venturing into the city to visit a basilica, without the traditional papal motorcade and military minders, to shake hands, give blessings and meet stunned children on their way to school.

He also wanted to pack his bags, left at a humble Vatican-owned lodge, to now move into the Vatican. Italy's newspapers said the acts of humility would go down in history as yet another first and would define his papacy and attract respect and support from congregations worldwide.

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